BPBD Fires 23.47 Hectares Of Peat Land In Palangka Raya Since Early 2023

The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has recorded that it has extinguished 23.47 hectares of peatlands in Palangka Raya City since early January 2023.

"From early January 2023 to June 19, we recorded that 23.47 hectares of peatlands had caught fire. During that period, the fire was successfully extinguished," said Head of BPBD Palangka Raya City, Emi Abriyani, in Central Kalimantan, Tuesday, June 20, as reported by Antara.

He said the peatland fires in the Palangka Raya area were spread across four sub-districts. Meanwhile, one sub-district is still free from cases that occur every dry season.

The four sub-districts that have occurred in the Karhutla case are Pahandut District with a total area of 1.83 hectares, Jekan Raya District with 9.37 hectares.

Then Sabangau District 9.58 hectares and Bukit Batu District 1.25 hectares. Meanwhile, one sub-district that has no case of peatland fires is Rakumpit District.

The woman wearing the hijab explained that the area of the peatlands that were burned was an accumulation of 36 land fires.

"The number of incidents in each sub-district is different from the different area," said Emi.

It is strongly suspected that the initial cause of the fire was due to an element of intent from the community. However, to confirm this allegation, the authorities authorized to conduct an investigation.

In an effort to extinguish forest and land fires, government firefighters and self-circles face challenges. This condition is because the burned area is peatland.

The dry land, due to the lack of rain over the past few weeks, has also made the land dry and easily ignited and spread the fire.

His party also intensively carries out socialization to the community through various ways to start utilizing social media, direct socialization or by distributing appeal leaflets. In order to support the anticipation and handling of forest and land fires, BPBD Palangka Raya City cooperates with a number of related parties involving 300 personnel in an effort to anticipate and deal with forest and land fires.